Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 April 1943 — Page 10
| By Edd ie Ash
PICKED UP in passing from the Ohio State J ournal;
“Manager Nick Cullop of the
Columbus Red Birds; 1942
American association and little world series winners, has
yet to announce his opening-day lineup for the game with
Louisville Thursday at Red Bird stadium. When Cullop makes his official seleetion, which probably will not’ be until shortly before game time, he certainly will not make a mistake, in so far as past performances this spring are
concerned.
“of course, Tommy Heath will be on the tailend of the Colum-
bus battery; Jack Sturdy at first,
‘Emil Verban at second, John
Antonilli at third and Pep Youhg at short will: form: the infield - combination, and a very fine one, it can be said. However, Cullop is greatly concerned over his present outfield problem. At this writing only Augie: Bergamo is ticketed as a sure starter in the outer
regions.
“When slugging Chet Wieczorek suffered a sprained ankle last
Saturday, he alone put a crimp. in Cullop’s outfield plans. The big’ Pole was proving himself the ‘power’ of the Red Bird attack.’ In the six exhibition games he had hammered out nine hits, including .a double; triple and home run, in 22 official trips to the plate. In | addition, he had obtained three bases on balls, fanned only twice
and driven in four runs.
“A great hitter. is Wieczorek and for the good of the cause the
courageous Pole should be playing Thursday.
Cullop has to choose
from Lou Scoffic and Jack McLain for his center field patrol. ‘ Th former is a veteran player, who in the past has carried a punch at the plate. He's a far better hitter than he has shown to date.
Two Hometown Boys on Team
“Jack McLain, like ‘Wheaties’ Whalen, Young's replacement at shortstop, isa Columbus boy. He was late in reporting, but in last Sunday's exhibition with Toledo, although going hitless, played well,
considering his lack of actual playing.
assignment will be given either to: George Dockins,
The opening day pitching Red Barrett, Ken Burkhart or
“Barrett and Burkhart, holdovers from last year’s erack Columbus pitching corps, have made the best showing in games: to. date among the righthanders. Dockins, a southpaw of ynlimited ability," is being counted upon as one of Cullop’s best pitching bets. He's one of those surefire youngsters and an "exceptional lad from all
angles on and off the diamond.”
Skladanys Go Big in Football
and Baseball
THIS WAS November of a few years ago.... Pitt had just faid claim to the mythical national intercollegiate football championship and the name Skladany became famous throughout the sports
world as an All-America end.”
Another Skladany—20-year-old Skladany—is fighting for a place in the sportlight with the Minneapolis baseball club. ... The
former All-America end and the young shortstop are brothers. - The Millers purchased Skladany from the Fargo-Moorhead club
1
of the -Northern league. , .. Judging by the records and reports of scouts, managers ‘and rival players, there isn’t any argument
against the wisdom of the deal.
Skladany. was the most there was in the way of Ncrthern league - ghortstops last ‘season; . . ; In ‘his first year of professional baseball
the : youngster from Plymouth,-Pa., batted: Hest 278.
ranked high. Sefensively ad
Rizzuto and Pesky Advanced Rapidly
MOVING FROM a 8 league to double A-is a big jump, put Skladany will have the example of two of the finest infielders of modern times as a guide. . . . Phil Rizzuto moved up from a Class B league to Kansas City in 1939 and became a first year sensation in the American association. ... Two years later little “Scooter”
was a regular with the Yankees.
John Pesky hurried out of a B league to Louisville in 1941,
After one year in the American association he was the most
talked of young infielder in the majors last summer, as shortstop
of the Boston Red Sox.
Skladany is a shade over 5 feet 11 inches tall and welghs 190
pounds. , . . He has size and speed.
Lombardi the Elephant Man
Finally Lands With Giants
By JACK CUDDY
ip
g United Press Staff Correspondent 2 NEW: YORK, April 28—Ernie (Schnoz) Lombardi fell in love with’
the Polo grounds’ left field stands
years ago and today was delighted
with the trade that shifted him from the Boston Braves to the: New
York Giants.
That's what the big, right-handed slugger with ‘the prominent proboscis “said after yesterday's Braves-Giants game—after he had been
notified of the deal by Ancient Bob Quinn, Boston’s silver = thatched | COM prexy. Lombardi, an elephant of a man who packs 235 pounds on: a six-foot-two frame, beamed as he told reporters, “I've always hit well at the Polo grounds during the past 12 seasons I've visited here with other clubs. Those left field stands, fairly close in, seemed like perfect targets for me. I ought to do well this season with the Polo grounds as my home field.” The towering Oakland; Cal, Italian did well last season—his first with the Braves. He won the National league batting championship with 330, repeating his performance of 1938 while with Cincinnati. That geason he registered .342 and was voted the league’s most valuable
player. 10 Years With Reds
Ernest Natali Lombardi is no
stranger in these parts. His first|}
season on the big time—1931—was spent in a Brooklyn uniform. Then he put in 10 seasons with the Reds. Lombardi assured reporters that his long holdout campaign this ‘spring had no bearing on yesterday’s trade. Prexy Quinn confirmed this. Quinn said he traded Lom-
bardi for Infielder Connie Ryan and| Ruth
Catcher Hugh Poland because the
Braves “just had to have another|Bewmmere Besar
| Jack Schaffer, Recreation
compromised on Poland and Ryan. I hated to see Ryan go because his departure will leave us terribly short on infield replacements.” Lombardi, because of his long holdout campaign, hasn’t played yet this season. He says he won't be in shape to start for at least another week. When informed of this, Ott said, “we’ll get him out there as soon as we can—even if we have to
at )
ol Tuneup {Is Slated at [Swayne Field
By EDDIE ASH { With spring training chores com-
‘| pleted, the Indianapolis Indians de-
parted for Toledo this morning
‘| where they will engage the Mud
Hens in an American association
"| lid-lifter under the lights at Swayne
field tomorrow night, It is the league's 42d season and the eight charter member cities are still in there pitching. That in itself is a credit to the A. A., generally acknowledged as the king of baseball’s big mincr circuits. Ownie Bush's Tribesters are going to the post in as good shape as the rest of the teams and the players are anxious to get started down the long championship trail of 154 games. They ‘have been training
| since March 27 and although ham-
pered, at times, by weather conditions, the Redskins are not griping.
Bush to Don Uniform
_ They are taking wartime baseball and its handicaps in stride and are determined to deliver up to the hilt for their peppery leader. Skipper Bush is to don a uniform tomorrow for the first. time this spring and he’ll direct the Tribe maneuvers from their dugout. He sat in the sta during’ the exhibition' games: aj “permitted PitcherCoach Waltep Tauscher to mastermind the - affaks on the field. ‘But Tauscher won't be around. in Toledo tomorrow. ‘He is shelved by
| a sore throat and is under a doctor’s
orders to remain in Indianapolis until Friday. Manager Bush said he would confine his master-minding to the dugout—in the early games. After a spell, he said, he won’t promise to remain in the dugout.
He Feels the Urge :
In other words, in the event the Indians run into tough going, Bush probably will get out on the coaching line and become the Ownie of old, stirring his players up to a high pitch of competitive action. "Skipper Bush will lead off with Johnny Hutchings on the mound tomorrow night. The big righthander is in fine physical condition
‘land is eager to pocket the season's
opening game. The remainder of the lineup will be like the Indians used in the last games of their exhibition schedule, “The Tribesters are to play in Toledo tomorrow, Friday and Sate urday, and in Columbus Sunday and Monday. - The Sunday menu calls for an afternoon double-head-er, and on Monday the game in ‘Columbus is to be a late morning affair, starting at 11:30, for the entertainment of “second shift” war plant workers.
Tuesday Is Open Date
Tuesday is an open ddte for the Indians and they will be at home to attend the war bond booster ‘baseball reception. And on Wednesday, May 5, at night, the Redskins are to open their home sedson at
| Victory field against Toledo, with
game time at 8:30 p. m. Tomorrow’s American’ association openers: Indianapolis at Toledo (night). Louisville at Columbus. Milwaukee at Minneapolis. Kansas City at St. Paul. In their last home practice yes-
®lterday, the Indians went through a
complete routine. Warmth in the
“lair was" to ‘their liking and they
made the best of it, flelding, batting, pitching and running.: : A final tuneup was scheduled in Toledo late this afternoon, after which the Tribesters will take it easy until the official starting bell sounds at Swayne field tomorrow night, hE
Southport Is Meet Favorite
Southport’s Cardinals were favored today to repeat their domi-
put him in a Turkish bath and then |ation in the 24th annual Marion
roll him out like a barrel to the plate. We need that big bat of his without delay, because we're awfully short on power.”
Last night's leading bowlers were: Bill Tarrant, West Side Classic..ee0.s =n Jack Gleichman, Indiana el “i
Bob Trittipo, Moonlite tion Howard Trowbridge, Curtiss-Wright. sole gis Charles § ges, lady of t Lourdes: , eee 614 H. Theobo! 61 Herman Dok 1 LADIES Betty Shipman, West Side Squeeze..... Mary Barringer, Marott ‘Shoe ....ce00 Margaret Gregory, Marott Shoe Weeten Genieve Higgs, Marott Sh
svsevese
. essasncessen { tt Shoe .eee eeesesese Mae Keating, Marott Shoe ‘sessensnees | Allen t Shoo sessecocse carsabseesey os McDanijels, Marott Shoe. .veeevs Mashek, Marott Shoe .ccceies Billie Rice, Marott Shoe ...... Alice Nuttall, Marott Shoe sheasvesves, Maxine Thayer, Marott Shoe Aileen Fray, Marott Shoe .... Gertrude Fox, Moonlite Mixed essssne Ruth Ridpath, Water 00. .......cecsees
FIGHT RESULTS
Mass.—Andy Holland,
avensess
a ore avipeied Tod Lov » 176, ew York, ou Ys.
o| fering from a leg injury received in |'the Southport relays Saturday.
i
county high school track and field meet which was to be held at Washington’s athletic field. From performances shown this season by thinlies ‘from’ the five county schools that were to participate, it does not appear that any of the meet records are in danger. Two record-breakers from the meet last year, Pete Negley of Law-' rence Central who topped the high jump record and Tom Haynes of
9! Southport who cracked the mile
mark, will not be present. Haynes has graduated and 'Negley is suf-
Southport’s stiffest competition’ is
goa expected to come from Ben Davis.
Records for the ‘carnival 100 Yards—:10.3, Reno 0 (Southport),
: ro Yards—:22.7, Schaffer (Southpert),
880 Tasie-s91d | Haynes (Selithport),
a Ca
beta Cosine 5, 200-Yard BE
hos
(8 ) Sper 40. Tet 4 inch, F.. Winchell (South rte ae Sia a wihpo
1938. 440 Yards—:53.7, Pearson (Ben Davis),|
‘Hardlen—i20, Sehlenieln|
Central), 1982. ¢ i J feet ‘s ’ inches, Basta
They Played the Game +. No.2
a Hit .424, Best Modern Batting Mark
By HARRY GRAYSON NEA Sports Editor \ ROGERS HORNSBY knew more about basebail and less about. diplomacy and horses than any one I ever knew. Tris Speaker, an innate Ameri can leaguer, paid Hornsby, who batted himself to fame in the National,.a fine compliment. As a manager, trouble trailed Hornsby like ' a faithful hound, and when the Browns fired him, I asked Speaker if he would hire The Rajah were he at the head of a club. “Maybe not as manager,” said Spoke, “but I'd pay him well just for sitting around and keeping me from making mistakes.” No one could appraise a: ball player quicker or more accurately than the stylish Rajah, ts os =
Brilliant Manager
HORNSBY WAS considered a:
priliant manager, yet couldn't hold a job. You: heard “horses” whenever. he was let go, but’ he traces his dismissals to financial arrangements and front office interference. But it wasn’t for managing that the name, Rogers Hornsby, is for-
ever engraved in the hall of fame. |\
The blunt Texan earned that niche by being what many considered the best natural righthand hitter of all time. Hornsby stood in the farthest corner of the batter's box with a 35-inch bat held at the end. He stepped into the ball. Hornsby brought the step-in style with him when he reported to the St. Louis Cardinals as a shortstop from the Dennison, Tex., club of the Western association in the fall of 1915. He weighed no more than 135 pounds at the time, however, had skinny arms, and Miller Huggins feared his recruit would get precisely nowhere against National league
pitching unless he choked the bat.
Young Hornsby put on 25 pounds over the winter, returned a strong 160-pounder, switched back to the swing that brought him fame and fortune. The man who had the most bizarre career baseball has ever known came in at 175, stood 5 feet 11 at his peak. Many pitchers suspected that Hornsby could not hit an outside pitch from his stand-back posi-
tion, but the Rajah managed to
get all the wood against the ball. Hornshy's distinctive stance presented the pitcher with a wider zone in which to find the strike area. Batters standing near ‘the plate give pitchers an outline of the strike zone on the inside. The Rajah’s eyes, most unusual
in appearance, seeméd to mag-.
nify the ball, and he took care of
trains, ete.
"Asked what, made him the Na-
tional league batting champion for six co 25—and for a seventh time in ’28,
Hornsby replied:
. did not drink ot ‘smoke, fréquently slept 42 hours-a day. - Hornsby was much faster than
he appedred, especially going to
: first base. : The Rajah could play any posi-
tion. An accomplished shortstop, he switched an ‘base in 20, and there his is fading throwitig
Moth Holes
- REWOVEN LIKE - NEW
His only weakness, oddly enough,
tional, leaguer who batted .400 or
them, avoided movies, reading on
tive seasons—1920-
“Them juicy |. “steaks.” He watched his diet. He
Rogers Hornsby at the . finish of his famous’ and distinétive’ swing.
and double play making came close to matching his stickwork.
was in going hack for a pop fly. ” ” 8
Offer $300,000
IT WAS with that long club in his powerful hands that Hornsby got in the dirty work, however, which is made evident by his lifetime average of .358, which includes ‘16 full seasons in the National; league. He is the only Na-
better for three years and he missed it by .003 on another occasion. His 424 in ’24 is the highest average recorded in the modern game. Before getting him in 1927 in exchange for Frank Frisch and Jimmy Ring, the Giants. offered the Cardinals $300,000 for Hornsby. He would have been worth it under John J. McGraw. Rogers Hornsby suffered from a growth on his heel. There is no telling what would have happened had he not been annoyed.
NEXT: Alexander the Great. Re —————————————————————
Attendance
NEW YORK, April 28 (U. P.)— Attendance at the second set of major league “opening” games, NATIONAL LEAGUE Cincinnati at Pittsburgh.... Chicago at St. Louis
Boston at New York ies Brooklyn at Philadelphia. ...
11,937 6,994 6,110 4,291
Total Sess BRt Rr
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York at Boston ..
Cleveland at Chicago....... 4117
Total Sess scanners. 11,012 Grand total ......cco00... 40,344
Total for last week’s opener 82,209
EE JTL Cl Wilh JULI EI RL CROWNS
0 0A
| Bg. | SH dette why. of ow ong lll ort
A. ¥ uwnancroune. mow” ;
Harder Sore |
16th Year With Victory No.190
By PAUL SCHEFFELS United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, April 28.—In 1028|
a tall, skinny, 18-year-old kid was lost in a sea of hopefuls at the
| camp of the Cleveland Indians. He
looked as if a good line drive would tear him apart. Yet today this same rookie, Mel Harder, has embarked on a new _chapter of one of the most brilliant records in baseball. ‘Harder probably won't win 20 games this’ year—his 16th with the Indians—but he may win 15. Thus with a good chance of finishing near the top in the American league, the Tribe is banking heavily on every pitch of Harder’s 33-year-old right arm. The six-foot Nebraskan started fooling with baseballs: when most
kids were playing with ratties, and |
he learned so much so well that he chalked up his 190th. victory and first of the year yesterday, 4-2, over the Chicago White Sox—a triumph that lifted the Indians into a sec-ond-place tie with the idle Browns. Held to 4 Hits : There was little evidence of age as Harder, with some, ninth-inning aid from Jack Salveson, held the White Sox to. four hits. Save for his wildness, Harder turned in a sturdy job. He gave up six walks and was relieved in the ninth when he allowed the last pass. Seven hits, five of them doubles, .routed Thornton Lee. and gave the Indians four runs and victory in the seventh. The Red Sox spoiled Marius Russo’s opening comeback effort by rotting him in the sixth inning and handing ‘the New York Yankees their first ‘defeat of the year, 5-1, at Boston before an opening .day crowd of 6895. Tex Hughson was reached for 12 hits but managed to squeeze through for his second win. Battle 16 Innings : Philadeiphia and Washington put on the longest duel of the year, battling through 16 innings ‘before the A’s emerged with a 2-1 win, A pair of singles, a walk, a fielder’s choice and an error by Gerry Priddy produced : the A's two runs.
St. Louis ° at ‘Detroit - was post
poned. Opening the National league season at home, Mort Cooper pitched the St. Louis Cardinals to a five-hit, 7-0 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. The Red Birds collected 12 hits, driving Paul Derringer from the hill after blasting him for four runs in the first. A crowd of 6994 attended. Brooklyn spoiled the Phillies’ local debut by triumphing, 4-2, before 4291. Whit Wyatt gave up five hits to the Phillies until he tired and was relieved by Les Webber in the seventh. Brooklyn garnered nine hits, ; Giants Win, 11-3 - A homer, triple and single by Rookie Sid Gordon set the pace as
+ .|the New York Giants opened at the Polo Grounds ‘before 6110 with
an 11-3 victory over the Boston Braves. Bill Lohrman gave up 10 hits for New York while Jim Tobin allowed 10 on the hill for the Braves. A Forbes fleld crowd of 11,937 watched Pittsburgh open at home with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Three runs in the eighth decided the game, Rookie Tom O’Brien’s clutch single scoring two runs to provide the big punch. The Reds garnered five hits from three pitchers and the Pirates 10 from two moundsmen,
~ Tests prove that the balata
ball, used in both major leagues * ow
unfil the National threw it out, is 25 per cent deader than the 1942
variety. The ersatz pellet has a
cork and balata core, ringed by
thin layers of black and red balata compound, wrapped from pill to
cover with blue-gray and white woolen yarn, all held together by : Cover is of domestic horsehide. The cement, made -
from reprocessed rubber, is blamed for the ball's lack of tediavoy. 4
rubber cement.
A new type of cement has been tested and accepted, and is being | used in the manufacture of livelier balls.
Draft-Riddled A. A. Ready
To Open Uncertain Season
CHICAGO, April 28 (U. P.).—The draft-riddled American association
will embark on its uncertain 1943 baseball season tomorrow, with league . officials optimistic about attendance despite wartime difficulties, President George Trautman said the association would continue to operate as well as possible with depleted rosters that have been fortified:
by players from sandlots and disbanded leagues.
Gene Simmons Fights Sheridan
Gene Simmons, former TimesLegion Golden Glover who recent ly hit the ‘professional trail, will battle Al Sheridan, another Inds anapolis . light- : heavyweight, in the semi-wind- : up of the pro . boxing bill to be staged at the armory Friday night by the Hercules A. C. They will clash over the eight-round route in a rematch from a recent six-round tilt which went to Simmons by a shade verdict. Simmons has won six of seven starts here as a money mauler. The main event will be a 10-round heavyweight scrap between Young, Harry Wills, Cincinnati, and Johnny Denson of Indianapolis.
Gene Simmons
Stirnweiss Takes Physical Today
HARTFORD, Conn., April 28 (U. P.).—George Stirnweiss, shortstop of the New York Yankees, undergoes his pre-induction army physical examination here tomorrow. Stirnweiss, up with the Yankees from the Newark Bears of the International league, will either be
inducted immediately or rejoin the Yankees at Washington the follow-
ing day.
on
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Johnny McCarthy, traded, but promising replacements
Club owners believed that gate receipts would increase because the fans, with increased spending power, will be forced by
Iu
gas and tire rationing to seek recre- = %
ation closer to home. The opening day schedule features. sectional play, rather than the nor- - mal intersectional contests, in order - to restrict travel: Kansas City at St. Paul, Milwaukee at Minneapolis; Louisville’at Columbus, Indianapolis. 1 at Toledo. The Columbus Red Birds, win<" ners of the flag in 1941, were early favorites to dethrone defending’
champion, Kansas City. Columbus’
finished third last season, won the" playoffs and the junior world series. The Kansas City Blues have lost © many pitchers to the draft, and unless their mound staff is replenish by the parent New York Wane kee system, the Blues face dimcult task in defending their crown. Milwaukee also is a pennant threat. Manager Charley Grimm lost two. key infielders in Eddie Stanky, association .batting champ, and Heinz Becker, both of whom are now with the Chicago Cubs. But Grimm obtained’ two sluggers in Merv Connors, first haseman from the Texas league, and Ted Norbert, Pacific coast outfielder, Donie Bush, president-owner<’ manager of the Indianapolis In-’ dians, lost heavily to the draft.’ Other mainstays, including Sluggek. were sold or
are expected to keep the Indians: in the thick of the campaign. Toledo has improved by picking * up players from the defunct Texas: league. The Minneapolis Millers, Louisville Colonels and St. Paul Saints appear to be tail-enders on the basis of an unimpressive sprig showing, . »
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